Students rely on bank of Mum and Dad

Four out of five students constantly worry about money while at university, according to a new study.

The average student in 2014 spends £735 a month but the average maintenance loan only covers £458 of living costs each month, which means students have a shortfall of £277, according to student advice website Save the Student.

Only one in six students has a part-time job, while nearly one in five (18%) rely on their parents to bridge the gap in their spending. However, one in three students feel their parents don't give them enough financial support.

High street banks also play a role in providing student overdrafts, with 12% of those polled using their overdraft facilities.

Universities and wider student funding support just over 10% of students with living costs.

More worrying is the fact that some students turn to credit cards and payday loans for extra money. Some 3% of students would take out a credit card, while 2% of those polled said they would contact a payday loan company.

In a financial emergency, more than a third (37%) of students would turn to their parents for help, while a quarter would go to their bank and one in 10 would ask friends for a loan.

Worries about money has a broader impact on students' welfare, with almost a half claiming that money worries adversely affect their studies and the majority believing it causes their diets to suffer.

Thorny issue

Jake Butler, editor of Save the Student, said: "It's a thorny issue of how much parents should contribute to the shortfall, and it entirely depends on individual circumstances. Ultimately I don't believe parents should have the expectation put upon them.

"However, with hearing daily horror stories of students living on the breadline, I feel it's still important that parents are made more aware of the situation their child at university may be in."